Topography
- Area in USA and Canada that lies between the Rockies and the Coast Mountains, the Cascades, and the Sierra Nevada
- Dimly populated region with high plateaus and isolated mountains
- Contains the only deserts in the USA
- In Canada, Intermountain Region consists of plateau valleys in British Columbia and the Yukon
- In many locations, streams and rivers of the region's mountains and plateaus never reach the sea, and instead flow into brackish (semi-salty) lakes, or into desert sinks
- In other areas, some rivers do flow into the ocean
- Some portions of the region have areas that are able to be made productive by irrigation, and in other locations, cattle-ranching is possible
Climate
- Climate of Intermountain Region is affected by its' location and elevation
- Winters are both cool and wet, and hot and dry, depending on the location in the region
- In the southern part of the region, winters are short and warm, with little precipitation
- Northern portion of the region also gets little precipitation, but its' winters and summers are more moderate
- Temperatures in Prince George, BC and around it go up to 25 C in the summer, and down to -10 C in winter months
- Down south in Arizona, 30 C is commonplace during the summer. Winters are warmer, as it usually never goes below 10 C during those months.
Vegetation
- Vegetation varies depending on the location
- Ranges from sparse grassland to plants that can survive in desert conditions
- Elevated areas are covered in thin pine forest
Economic Activity
- Agriculture & farming are common in all of the region, with crops like potatoes, hay, lettuce, broccoli, wheat, and fruit, and livestock like beef and milk leading the way
- Manufacturing is another economic activity, with metals, electronics, food products, concrete, paper and clothing being popular products
- Mining is also popular, with gold, copper, silver, uranium and petroleum being common commodities
Environmental Concerns
- Air quality is an issue in parts of the Intermountain Region, with pollutants like carbon monoxide, lead, and nitrogen dioxide polluting the air and environment
- Other environmental concerns present in the region are water quality, and the presence of oil and the potential of spillages & accidents